Where Does Tahoe's Water Pollution Come From?

Segment 8 - Air Date: March 25
((ANCHOR INTRO))
You can't seem to talk about Lake Tahoe these days without talking about pollution. In
tonight's Lake Tahoe Report, Shelly Purdy defines the different types of pollution and
how they can affect you.
((TAKE PKG))
((Track 1))
There are 6 main categories of pollution, and when you?re talking about Lake Tahoe
some are more damaging than others. The sun, for instance, can be a pollutant if it causes
abnormally high water temperatures. Animal waste carries pathogens that can cause
disease. And toxins like pesticides and used motor oil also pollute the water. But at Lake
Tahoe the two major sources of pollution are nutrients and sediments. Nutrients are found
in fertilizer - a substance that makes plants grow is very damaging to the lake.
((SOT tape 6 @ 9:10 John Cobourn, UNR Cooperative Extension))
"Because we don't want to promote plant growth in Lake Tahoe. That's one of the
things that's clouding it and causing it to turn green."
((Track 2))
The other pollutant affecting Lake Tahoe is sediment. This simple experiment using a
teaspoon of dirt in a water bottle shows just how damaging sediment can be.
((SOT tape 6 @ 14:20 Heather Segale, Lake Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition))
"The larger particles of soil and sand and small rocks will actually fall out immediately.
But you can see that the smaller parts of soil will stay suspended in the water. These
microscopic sized particles will stay there quite a long time in suspension."
((Track 3))
It's a simple but perfect illustration of why it's so important to control soil erosion and
keep sediment from getting into the lake. With the Lake Tahoe Environmental Education
Coalition, I'm Shelly Purdy for News Channel 8.
((ANCHOR TAG/STILL STORE))
For more information about the different types of pollution and for instructions on how to
do the sediment test with your kids, visit our website at kolotv.com and go to the links
page.

Click tabs to swap between content that is broken into logical sections.

Segment 8 - Air Date: March 25
((ANCHOR INTRO))
You can't seem to talk about Lake Tahoe these days without talking about pollution. In
tonight's Lake Tahoe Report, Shelly Purdy defines the different types of pollution and
how they can affect you.
((TAKE PKG))
((Track 1))
There are 6 main categories of pollution, and when you?re talking about Lake Tahoe
some are more damaging than others. The sun, for instance, can be a pollutant if it causes
abnormally high water temperatures. Animal waste carries pathogens that can cause
disease. And toxins like pesticides and used motor oil also pollute the water. But at Lake
Tahoe the two major sources of pollution are nutrients and sediments. Nutrients are found
in fertilizer - a substance that makes plants grow is very damaging to the lake.
((SOT tape 6 @ 9:10 John Cobourn, UNR Cooperative Extension))
"Because we don't want to promote plant growth in Lake Tahoe. That's one of the
things that's clouding it and causing it to turn green."
((Track 2))
The other pollutant affecting Lake Tahoe is sediment. This simple experiment using a
teaspoon of dirt in a water bottle shows just how damaging sediment can be.
((SOT tape 6 @ 14:20 Heather Segale, Lake Tahoe Environmental Education Coalition))
"The larger particles of soil and sand and small rocks will actually fall out immediately.
But you can see that the smaller parts of soil will stay suspended in the water. These
microscopic sized particles will stay there quite a long time in suspension."
((Track 3))
It's a simple but perfect illustration of why it's so important to control soil erosion and
keep sediment from getting into the lake. With the Lake Tahoe Environmental Education
Coalition, I'm Shelly Purdy for News Channel 8.
((ANCHOR TAG/STILL STORE))
For more information about the different types of pollution and for instructions on how to
do the sediment test with your kids, visit our website at kolotv.com and go to the links
page.